MLS: Union deal draft pick

In his weekly press conference Wednesday, Union manager John Hackworth hinted at some difficult decisions on the horizon.

One of those came down Friday.On deadline day for MLS clubs to get their rosters into salary-cap compliance, the Union dealt 2012 SuperDraft first-round pick Chandler Hoffman to the Los Angeles Galaxy for a conditional pick in 2014.

“It has been truly an honor and blessing to wear the Blue and Gold and I want to say a huge thank you to the @PhilaUnion and @SonsofBen for all the love and support I have received since day 1 of joining the team,” tweeted Hoffman Friday morning. “I wish all the fans and the organization nothing but the best.”

The 13th overall pick last year, Hoffman found opportunities limited with the Union. He appeared in seven league games, two starts, without recording a point. He managed just two shots in those appearances.

His biggest claims to fame include scoring the game-winner in a friendly over German side Schalke 04 and setting a club record with four goals in a reserve-league contest.

“Chandler and I had an honest conversation about where he stood, and we decided that this trade gives him an opportunity that he would not have had within our team this season,” Hackworth said in a statement released by the team. “Our organization thinks very highly of Chandler, both on and off the field, and we wish him the best of luck as he continues to develop in his career.”

The move looks like an opportunity more for player than club. It wasn’t driven by finances in the short-term, as Hoffman still qualifies as a Generation Adidas player who wouldn’t count against the team’s salary cap or as occupying one of the team’s 20 prime roster spots.

Hoffman was likely to drop in the pecking order this season behind newly-acquired forwards Sebastien Le Toux and Conor Casey. The Union also return Jack McInerney, their leading scorer from last season and a strong all-around forward.

The remaining three forwards on the roster all fill some kind of niche. Antoine Hoppenot seems adept at the late-game, speedy forward role, Aaron Wheeler’s 6-4 frame makes him dangerous on set pieces and 19-year-old Christian Hernandez counts as a homegrown player.

Judging by his performances last season, Hoffman appears more of a traditional forward who requires time to settle into matches, time the Union couldn’t regularly afford him. For what it’s worth, Hoffman is represented by the same agent as Freddy Adu, well-known MLS agent Richard Motzkin.

Instead, Hoffman joins a team in the city where he starred in college with UCLA. The Galaxy have a big question mark looming in the mood of Landon Donovan, who isn’t with the team to start the season. Beyond captain and leading scorer Robbie Keane, the Galaxy return a nucleus of unproven forwards, including promising American teens Jose Villarreal and Jack McBean as well as 21-year-old Gyasi Zardes into which Hoffman will try to establish himself.